Late for school and you're stumped on what to do with your hair? Need a cute but easy hairdo for a date? This will help you out.
I know it's not easy dealing with 4c natural hair (I'm a witness). But there are different hacks to make your natural hair journey easier and more satisfying. The 4c natural hair is usually painful to comb or braid but beauty is pain. Although there are a few things I would recommend you get to make your hair sleek, pretty, and easy to manage. They are :
1. A spray bottle with water(personally I use rice water instead of ordinary water, it helps my hair grow better and softens it too)
2. An essential oil (this could be olive, coconut or almond oil. I use olive though, it really softens the hair and makes it shine)
3. A curling custard
4. Gel (please don't get regular gel, it's really not good for natural hair. There are gels specifically made for natural hair. When buying your gel check your hair texture to know if you need a strong gel or a soft gel)
5. A cutting comb
6. A wide-toothed comb(wide-toothed combs are recommended for natural hair because they detangle your hair without cutting as much as normal combs do)
7. A Denman brush (this isn't really a necessity but it doesn't hurt to have it all)
Getting all these wouldn't be that hard. They are the basic ingredients you need for any hairstyle on your hair. So, let's get into the styles:
1. Space buns:
This is a really easy hairstyle that doesn't take much of your time. All you need for it are two scrunchies, (please don't use rubber bands on your natural hair it cuts it) and the basic ingredients I mentioned above.
First, you have to dampen your hair with the water from the spray bottle (always put water first, don't put oil first. The oil blocks your pores and doesn't let water get in to moisturize your hair). After getting your hair a bit wet, apply the oil (not too much though). Divide your hair into sections and detangle with your hands then use your wide-toothed comb to finish up (detangling with your hand helps reduce the rate at which your hair cuts).
After combing your hair out, you're free to apply the curling custard (again not too much). When this is done, take your cutting comb and divide your hair into two vertical sections(you could do a zigzag design in the middle to make it cuter).
When you're done with that, the next phase is to get a bit of your styling gel into your palms. Rub the styling gel over the first half of your hair and smoothen it out. This will help hold the hair in place because natural hair can be really frizzy.
As your smoothening your hair out, take up your scrunchie and tie it up. Let it be like its placed on top of your head and don't take it low. Do the same to the second half. Then you're free to style your edges however you want.
When you're done with this, wrap your hair(minus the buns, wrap around the buns) in a silk scarf for it to dry. It also helps hold the gel in place. After a little while unwrapping your hair and voila!
You're good to go. You could add hair clips and all that to your hair to make it look classier. Then puff out your buns with a pick.
You could also twist two braids in front to give out that cute and classy vibes.
2. The comb-out:
This one is pretty easy. All you need to do is to detangle your hair and comb it out after applying the basic ingredients (curling custard is optional and you don't need styling gel for this).
After combing your hair, just use an afro comb to make it fluffy and to enhance the style(you need to comb out your hair properly so that the curls don't look raggedy) You could also tie a very thin scarf around your edges to enhance the look. The fluff of your hair will cover the scarf up. It makes it cuter. This is one of the easiest styles there is.
3. The braid-out:
This is another equally easy style. You don't even need to comb your hair for it, so basically how this goes is; when you're tired of the braids or twists you've got on, all you have to do is lose the braids but don't comb your hair. Spray it with the content of your spray bottle, apply the essential oil and curling custard, then run your fingers through the curls made by the braids.
You can lay your edges when you're done or tie a scarf or a bandana around it. Either way its a pretty lazy hairstyle that gives you curls without you trying hard.
4. The top-notch bun:
This style is a bit similar to the space buns except its a single. All you need to do is to comb out your hair as you did with the space buns but without dividing the hair into two sections. When you've done this, get a good deal of the styling gel in your hands and comb your hair upwards. Apply the gel round the hair except on the puff. pack the hair right on top of your head and hold it with a scrunchie tightly (with this particular style, the scrunchie has to hold the hair tightly).
After this, you can take care of your edges and then tie a scarf around your hair till it dries to help hold the gel in place and your good to go. This look is both classy and casual.
4. The High Puff:
This hairstyle is similar to the top-notch bun but not quite the same. You won't need a scrunchie in this case but a really thin scarf or a shoelace.
All you need to do is to go through the same process as the top-notch bun but don't tie your hair up with the scrunchie. Ditch it for a scarf or a shoelace. Place the scarf or shoelace at the bottom of your hair while holding the two edges in front.
Tie it once and begin to drag it up. Do this till you've created a huge afro on your head. Then you can lay your edges and tie a scarf to hold it in place.
This style makes your hair seem fuller than it is. It's one of my personal favorites actually and it's really cute.
5. The low bun:
This style doesn't take much time. You need to bring back your scrunchie here though and it would look pretty cute if u had hair clips to place around your hair.
So basically you need to start with combing out your hair as always. Then you need a really great deal of gel to pull your hair backward and hold it. For this style, you can decide on a center, side, or no parting at all.
Whichever works best for you. When you're done combing it, part your hair with a cutting comb if you've decided to part it, if not it's still cute. Comb your hair backward and use a Denman brush or whatever good brush you have to brush your hair backward.
As you brush your hair backward apply the gel all round. You need enough gel here, especially if your hair isn't really long.
When you're done with the gel and the brushing, hold the hair at your nape with a scrunchie and you're all set. Make your edges pretty and tie around the hair with a scarf till it dries. You're free to spruce up the style with some cute hairclips.
6. The All-Round Twist :
This style will take a bit of your time so it's better to do it a day before. I usually do mine a night before. This particular one is long-lasting and you can style it in different ways.
So all you need are the basic ingredients. Comb out your hair and apply everything except the styling gel. When this is done, take your cutting comb and being to divide your hair into sections(if your not good at dividing neatly, you could have someone do it for you(that's what I do).
Roll up whatever you cut out till your done with the whole hair. When you're through with this then get ready to twist!
Before you start each twist, saturate the hair thoroughly with the gel so that your twists last long. Repeat this till you're done with the whole hair. Then leave it to dry and you're set!
Disclaimer: Whatever you do, keep heat as far away as possible from your natural hair. Let your hair air dry always. The heat destroys your pores and kills your hair.
I hope you enjoy rocking the natural look.
